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Monday, August 31, 2009

The City of Milton will host a CPR class 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Milton High School. This free hour-long class is open to anyone who wishes to learn these life saving skills: CPR (adult and child,) First Aid, use of AED's and how to rescue a choking victim.

The Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association recently recognized Milton as a Georgia "Heart Ready City." The designation indicates the city's commitment to community-based programs that improve the chances of a person surviving a cardiac event. Milton is one of only a few cities in the state to receive this designation.

Milton's Fire Department is holding this mass community CPR event as part of a "Heart Ready" requirement to teach 500 people CPR annually. Additionally, this event will allow the department to provide a free and potentially life-saving class to all residents. For more information about being a Heart Ready city, please visit the American Heart Association's Web site.

The City of Milton is collaborating with the International City-County Management Association to conduct a citizen survey to gauge their satisfaction with their local government

In the coming weeks, the survey will be distributed to a sampling of Milton residents. Partnering with ICMA allows Milton to benchmark its performance against national standards of cities with similar size and population.

This city-sponsored survey is delivered without survey bias and will be statistically valid. It is intended to represent a real and accurate picture of Milton residents’ level of satisfaction, wants, and expectations of their government.

"The survey is a valuable tool for our future planning," said City Manager Chris Lagerbloom. "If you receive a survey in the coming weeks, we ask that you please take the time to complete and return it. Your responses will provide the City with invaluable information, which will be used to establish the city's direction in the coming years, and are critical to ensure an accurate representation of Milton residents."

Any resident with accessibility issues that prevent completion of the survey are asked to contact Matt Marrietta via e-mail at matthew.marietta@cityofmiltonga.us or call 678.242.2500.

Milton's Community Development department and the Historic Preservation Committee are nearing the finish line in creating a Historic Preservation ordinance for the city.

The Mayor and City Council, along with the Planning Commission, are reviewing a draft ordinance. A proposed Historic Preservation Commission is expected to go before the Mayor and City Council in September.

A local historic preservation ordinance establishes the criteria and process for how a property or district may be designated as historic. The language and structure of the ordinance is established by the Georgia Historic Preservation Act and regulated by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division.

Once a preservation ordinance is adopted, a local historic preservation commission may be created. The commission requires a certificate of appropriateness prior to any material change in appearance of a structure designated as a landmark or within a historic district.

According to the Georgia Alliance of Preservation Commissions, a preservation ordinance does not:

Review color selections or require permission to paint a houseRestrict the sale of the propertyRequire improvements to the propertyRequire approval of interior changesPrevent new construction within historic areasRestrict the use of a property

A preservation ordinance does:

Provide municipal policy for protection of historic propertiesEstablish an objective and democratic process for designating historical propertiesProtect the integrity of designated properties with design review requirementsProtect and enhance property valuesHelp to maintain the overall character of an area

The move for historic preservation ordinances has its roots in a survey conducted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 1995 and 1996. Since then, many sites have been demolished or have deteriorated in condition. Others have been so dramatically altered from their original state they may not be eligible to be considered historic.

In 2007 a passionate group of residents presented a draft ordinance for the creation of a Historic Preservation Commission to Milton's Community Development department.

The Historic Preservation Committee was established by the Mayor and City Council on Dec. 1, 2008. This committee has worked with city staff to develop an ordinance that will preserve Milton's historic resources and spur economic development.

From March through July the Historic Preservation Committee developed and received approval for a draft ordinance. The draft was subsequently presented to the Mayor, City Council and the Planning Commission for consideration.

In September, the Community Development department hopes to present the Historic Preservation Commission to the Mayor and City Council. Once the commission is appointed, they will develop the Historic District Design Guidelines, conduct public hearings for comments on the design guidelines and, after City Council approves the design guidelines, start consideration of nominations and designations.

Seats for the Mayor and Milton City Council Districts 1, 3, and 5 are up for election during 2009. Qualified candidates may file for the Nov. 3 non-partisan election 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, through Friday, Sept. 4, by picking up a one-page affidavit from the City Clerk's office at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite A/B, Milton, GA 30004. The fee for qualifying is $690 for Mayor and $390 for Council. If no candidate receives a majority vote for a position, a runoff will be held on Dec. 1.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Welcome to our first broadcast of "All About Milton" hosted by Kirk Driskell of Power Realty. Accessmilton.com visitors can look forward to weekly video focused only on your city of Milton, Georgia.From real estate, to local business, to local opinion, we've got you covered. So without further delay, Kirk Driskell has the floor!

Friday, August 28, 2009

August 27, 2009Milton's first murder case has come to a close.Milton police and the U.S. Marshal's Service announced Kisha "Key" Rutledge, the alleged mastermind behind the June 2007 shooting death of Keith Brown at the Preserve at Deerfield apartments, was arrested Aug. 26 in Houston, Texas.Rutledge, who has been on the run for more than two years, was arrested without incident and is in Harris County jail awaiting extradition to Georgia, said Capt. Shawn McCarty, a spokesman for the Milton Police Department.McCarty said help from the GBI, Marshal's Service, and television show "America's Most Wanted," which first aired an episode that detailed Keith Brown's shooting in March and re-aired it the first week of August, was key to her capture."That has been the backbone of helping us get through this," he said.When caught, Rutledge denied her identity, said Alex Camacho, an inspector with the U.S. Marshal's Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Investigators were able to ascertain it was her, however, because of a tattoo that said "Key," her nickname, on her arm.Angeline Hartmann is a correspondent with America's Most Wanted. She said producers with the show were on the phone with Marshals when they arrested Rutledge. Authorities were having a tough time making sure they had the right woman, Hartmann said, because Rutledge was well versed in giving false names, dates of birth and social security numbers. "We said, 'Check her tattoos,'" said Hartmann. "They did and said it was her."Rutledge's arrest ends a lurid, sensational case that came to a close because of tips gained from the episode. Camacho said tips collected from that last airing — corroborated with "credible" information from sources at the Marshal's Service — led to Rutledge's capture. It ended a chase that wove through Georgia, Florida and Louisiana, said McCarty."The public is invaluable, we can not do it without their assistance," said Camacho.Two of Rutledge's alleged accomplices in Brown's shooting death, Jeff Dulcio and Michelle Morrison, were convicted to life in prison in April for their parts in the Crime. Stephen Woods, the third defendant, pled guilty to criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and a weapons charge and received a lesser sentence.According to information presented in court, Brown was killed because he had a lot of cash on hand and made the mistake of crossing Rutledge, who ran an alleged escort service named "Atlanta's Keys." He began making private arrangements with Rutledge's girls directly, bypassing the madame, said prosecutors. Brown also reportedly had the girls doing clerical work for his pressure-washing business, among other things. That's because Brown and his wife had recently separated, and she usually took care of the paperwork side of the business. Detectives said Dulcio and Woods were "gang bangers" who apparently knew Rutledge from several nightclubs in Atlanta. She allegedly ordered the hit on Brown, and Dulcio pulled the trigger.When Brown called Morrison, an adult entertainer, on the early summer evening for a "date," he instead was met by the two men at his apartment. Morrison and Rutledge stayed in the car.An avid gun collector, Brown was armed, for which Dulcio and Woods had not accounted. Dulcio and Brown got into a shoot-out in Brown's apartment, and he died calling 911 from his cell phone.Woods was arrested just nine days after the crime, while Dulcio was caught July 12, 2007. Morrison, the getaway driver in the deal and one of Rutledge's prostitutes, turned herself in Oct. 24, 2007.There have been four homicides since Milton incorporated in December 2006. All four suspects are behind bars. The suspect in Milton's second homicide case, 28-year-old Buffalo, N.Y. native Alan Hall, was sentenced March 30 to two consecutive life sentences plus five years for murdering two drug dealers in Milton's Avensong neighborhood in October 2007.Ramero Furman has been in police custody since Sept. 4, 2008, when he allegedly stabbed to death his girlfriend, 33-year-old Marianela Smith, in front of her 5-year-old son outside their North Park Estates apartment home on Deerfield Parkway. Furman then turned the knife on himself in an apparent and unsuccessful attempt at suicide.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

As many of you might know, Milton Resident Steve Beechum was in a motorcyle accident this past Wednesday. Thankfully, with exception of a leg injury, Steve is still with us. If you happen to see Mr. Beechum out and about, please wish him a speedy recovery.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Dear Milton Citizens, Friends and Neighbors,I hope everyone is getting back into their school routines and all is going well. There are several meetings this week I wanted to be sure you had on your calendar. Tonight there is a meeting regarding Crabapple that will take place at City Hall at 6:00 p.m. It will be conducted as a design charrette allowing citizens to weigh in on options for Crabapple with a focus on transportation improvements. Your opinions make a difference and this interactive session will allow you to provide specific input. Please plan to attend and participate. For more information on this meeting, use this link to learn more.

More details on these and other meetings in the right margin.I hope this is helpful. Thank you for caring enough about your community to be involved. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you. All my best -Julie Zahner Bailey

Milton's Public Works Department is hosting a Crabapple Design Charrette TONIGHT, Monday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. at Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107E. Citizens can provide input on the concept designs for the Crabapple Crossroads intersection. The charrette is focused on Crabapple as a "village activity center opportunity." School and commuter traffic, as well as connectivity and enhanced pedestrian access, will be discussed. During the charrette, Kimley-Horn, the consulting firm working on Milton's Comprehensive Transportation Plan and the Crabapple Crossroads Study, will work with participants to sketch design ideas and general concepts for the area on plans and aerials to be used in the concept plan. This study is a detailed look at the Crabapple Crossroads intersection and will be integrated into the transportation master plan.Please send this newsletter to others who might want to receive it. They can register to receive future newsletters from me.

I consider it an honor to represent you. Please contact me with your views on any issue that needs to be addressed or whenever I can be of service.

Friday, August 21, 2009

All:We have been receiving reports over the course of the week regarding CH2MHill's possible departure from the city of Milton, GA. The company has been with the city since it's creation in December of 2006. To date, CH2 has controlled the majority of the city's functions with exception of the Fire and Police departments. City employees contracted through the company include City Arborist Mark Law and Public Events Coordinator Linda Blow. We will continue to update Accessmilton.com regarding this issue as information comes to us.To find out more about CH2MHill, click here=> http://www.ch2m.com

The Milton Business Alliance (MBA) will be meeting at The Mad Italian Resturant this Thursday, August 23rd at 6pm. A $5 cover charge for the special MBA menu is requred and cash bar is available. Please bring a potential member as a guest and help the Milton Business Alliance grow.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Please note that our meeting is later this month (by exactly a week and 90 minutes). We had to move it back a week because of the suddenly-conflicting CPAC review at City Hall last Thursday, and by 90 minutes to 7:30 p.m. because several members have curriculum nights at their schools earlier that evening. I hope to see you there.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Council person Tina D'Aversa kicked off her re-election campaign Saturday night at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Paul English In Milton. With supporters numbering right around 130, discussion and hand shakes were common place.

Council members in attendence included Burt Hewitt, Alan Tart, Julie Zahner Bailey, and Mayor Joe Lockwood. Other notable guests included Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts and Milton Rock Band "Rye."

When pressed as to why she chose to host such an impressive gathering even though no one has yet to come forward to challenge her, Mrs. D'Aversa responded that this event was also about saying thank you to those who have supported her since she initially took office in the Fall of 2006.

Video below includes an endorsement by Mayor Lockwood and a brief speech by Council Person D'Aversa.

Interested in running for a Milton Office? Qualified candidates may file for the Nov. 3 non-partisan election between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4 by picking up a one-page affidavit from the City Clerk's office at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite A/B, Milton, GA 30004.

With cars from Ford to Chevy to MG to Ferrari, the first Crabapple Georgia Car Show was a great success! Hosted by The Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub, the event kicked off at 9am on Saturday, August 15th and ran until early noon. An estimated 100 plus cars participated. According to Ron Wallace, show coordinator and owner of the Old Blind Dog, they plan on having an auto show the third Saturday of each month.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I learned through a press release that "Milton's Community Development Department and the Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee are hosting a Comprehensive Plan Information Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m.at Milton City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway." I have contacted our Board of Directors and received agreement to reschedule our August monthly meeting for next Thursday, August 20 at the Birmingham Fire station from 7:309:30 p.m. Please note the later time--this is to accommodate several members who have curriculum planning meetings at their schools earlier that evening. I hope that you can arrange to attend this specially-scheduled meeting.

I also hope that you will take this opportunity to attend the Comprehensive Plan Information Meeting tom morrow evening at 6:30 at City Hall. This is a very important opportunity to make sure that the Comprehensive Plan, Milton's blueprint for growth for the next 20 years, reflects Milton's vision, which "embraces small-town life and heritage while preserving and enhancing the city's equestrian centric rural character." Noble goals such as this do not just "happen." They happen because we work to help them move from visions to realities.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

There have been several bear sightings in Milton over the past several weeks. The Police Department believes the sightings are of one bear moving from the south end of the city to the north. The City would like to share a few bear safety tips from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and The Blue Ridge Highlander. All Milton residents are encouraged to educate themselves about bears and their behaviors. Please keep in mind that a black bear’s diet consists of whatever food is readily available at any given time including human and pet food, birdseed, beehives and compost piles.

Tips from GeorgiaWildlife.org

Keep items, such as grills, pet food or bird feeders off-limits to bears. Clean and store grills when not in use, keep pet food indoors.Make sure trashcans are bear-proof or kept indoors.When camping or picnicking, keep your site clean.

Tips from TheBlueRidgeHighlander.com

Anytime you see a bear:

Do not feed or toss food to a bear or any wild animal. Such activity is unlawful.Keep children close at hand.Keep pets indoors or in a vehicle or camper, and keep dogs on a lease; dogs will confront bears and may get serious injuries.Do not approach a bear at anytime as they are dangerous and unpredictable.Never surround or corner a bear.Never run from a bear; slowly back away and make lots of noise.

Seats for the Mayor and three City Council members in Milton are up for election during 2009. Qualified candidates may file for the Nov. 3 non-partisan election between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4 by picking up a one-page affidavit from the City Clerk's office at 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite A/B, Milton, GA 30004. The fee for qualifying is $690 for Mayor and $390 for Council. If no candidate receives a majority vote for a position, a runoff will be held on Dec. 1.

August 31 -CPAC6:30Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held at Milton City Hall, Deerfield Professional Centre, 13000 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 107, Milton, GA 30004.If you need special accommodations in order to participate in any city meeting, please call 678.242.2500.

Owen Dasher, an 8-year-old Milton resident, was the lucky winner of a "Mayor for a Day" auction at a local school. Dasher spent the afternoon at City Hall with Mayor Joe Lockwood and City staff. The lucky winner, who brought several family members with him, got a ride around the block in a Milton fire truck, was allowed to peek inside a police car and toured City Hall.

Solomzi "Soli" Colbert won the recent logo contest for the 2009 Milton Roundup T-shirt design. At the July 6 City Council meeting, the Mayor and Council congratulated Colbert and awarded him with a $100 prize for his drawing. The design, featuring a horse, cowboy and lasso, was praised by those attending the meeting.

The 2009 Milton Roundup takes place on Saturday Oct. 17 on the campuses of Northwestern Middle and Milton High schools and the first 1,500 attendees will receive a free T-shirt bearing Colbert's design. Colbert is currently on a scholarship at a three-week summer arts program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.

The City of Milton has been recognized as a Heart Ready City by the American Heart Association. Milton is one of only a few Georgia cities that have received this designation. A "Heart Ready City" demonstrates leadership and commitment to saving lives through implementation of model emergency cardiovascular programs, according to the AHA. As part of being a Heart Ready City, Milton is required to teach CPR to 500 people annually. To achieve this goal, the Fire Department plans to hold a mass community CPR event. This allows the department to provide a free and potentially lifesaving class to all residents while retaining Heart Ready City status.

Currently available on the City Web site is a Swimming Pool Guide for Milton residents. The purpose of this guide is to assist you in the permitting process and inform you of pool requirements such as having a fence or other permanent barrier completely around the pool, gates that must swing outwards away from the pool, etc. Please review this guide and discuss your project with city staff to determine if it is subject to additional requirements. Read the brochure on swimming pools

Courtesy City Of MiltonOutside Storage Associated with Residential Use or District: Storage is permitted in side and rear yards only and must be screened from adjoining residential uses and from streets with an opaque fence or a vegetative screen.To find out more about Milton's Code Enforcement, click here=>http://www.cityofmiltonga.us/zoning/code_enforcement.html

Beginning this month, the City of Milton Fire Department will begin its third year partnering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association's "Fill-the-Boot" campaign that takes place each summer. Between 2007 and 2008, Milton firefighters have raised over $65,000 for the fight of neuromuscular diseases. In 2008, the Milton Fire Department raised the second most money in the state and was number one in the Metro Atlanta Area.Watch for Milton firefighters at various intersections and help our men and women fill that boot.

So far, 2009 is proving to be an interesting year. A lot is changing in our country, our state and our city. Although times – and our city – are changing, there is one thing that remains constant: the need to preserve public safety.

Milton citizens and visitors are fortunate to have such outstanding police and fire departments. Day or night, rain or shine, no matter how dangerous the situation, our hard working public safety team is here for every one of us. They save us from fires, pull us from accidents, protect our families from criminals and allow us to sleep better at night. And for that I am eternally grateful.

In May, two fine Milton police officers, Nathan Allen and Andrew Phillips, acted bravely and fearlessly in the face of danger when they rescued a citizen from a burning automobile. Allen and Phillips risked their lives for a Milton resident and were able to safely transfer him to medical personnel. Since Allen and Phillips acted so courageously, we decided to award them the first-ever Milton Medal of Valor at the Aug. 3 City Council Meeting. I hope these two officers inspire all of us to be more valiant.

While the public safety team is there to help us every day, sometimes they need help from us.

For the third consecutive year, the Milton Fire Department is partnering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to raise money for the fight against neuromuscular diseases with the “Fill-the-Boot” campaign. Our department has raised more than $65,000 over the past two years and raised the second most money in Georgia in 2008. This year, their goal has been set high and you can help. Keep an eye out for Milton firefighters at various intersections throughout August and please give what you can. Every cent helps; no donation is too small.Another way you can help our Public Safety Department is by attending the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue unit fundraising event. The Milton TLAER unit, whose job is to safely manage and deal with incidents that involve large animals, is a newer program for our city and still has a great need for training equipment.

If you are interested in this unit, or wish to make a donation, join us on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Chukkar Farms and Polo Club. Tickets for this event can be purchased at City Hall or any Milton fire station. More information on this event can be found on our City Web site:

www.CityofMiltonGa.us. Although times are tough, we can always find a way to help others; especially those whose job it is to help us. And as always, contact me or our Public Safety Department with any questions or concerns.

By Ralph EllisThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution Milton, the moneyed equine community in north Fulton, wants to get Lucky.

Not lucky, as in winning a lottery. Lucky, as in the $11,000 horse mannequin.The fire department is raising money to buy the horse mannequin for training. To practice now, the department’s large animal rescue unit uses live horses, which require a veterinarian and a horse owner willing to let their animal be sedated, said fire Lt. Bill Bourn.

Lucky, so named by manufacturer Rescue Critters! of Los Angeles, has a movable head and limbs. It’s life-size but weighs only 400 pounds, compared with 1,000 to 1,200 pounds for an average horse.

Still, it would allow firefighters to train for equine rescue scenarios: an overturned trailer, a horse in a sinkhole or a steed that wanders into a swimming pool.

“They usually end up in the shallow end,” Bourn said. “Getting in was a lot easier than getting out.”

None of these emergencies has happened yet, but it’s not out of the question for Milton, which has more than 100 horse farms, Bourn said. It’s one of the few towns in Georgia with a large animal rescue unit, he said.

To pay for the mannequin, the Milton Fire Department needs luck — and generosity. It will hold a fund-raiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 23 at Chukkar Farms and Polo Club. For more information, visit www.cityofmiltonga.us or call 678-242-2500.

Rescue Critters produces about a dozen handmade horse mannequins a year along with first-aid training mannequins such as Fluffy the cat ($329) and Jerry the K-9 ($989), said company President Craig Jones.